The Conover + Gould team will be donating to eleven nonprofits in the spirit of giving back during the holiday season. During the month of December, each team member will be blogging about his or her chosen nonprofit. For her gift, Jillian chose UUUM’s Renewal House.

Renewal House is a small domestic violence shelter in the Boston area, but the services they offer go beyond just a safe place to sleep. Through its programs and services, Renewal House builds a supportive community for victims.

Renewal House is a shelter based on the principles of restorative justice, the understanding that everyone involved experiences hurt when domestic violence occurs and a focus on forgiveness. According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, domestic violence between partners affects nearly 12 million women and men in the United States each year. This number includes incidents between same sex couples, and grows larger when we count the number of children affected. As one of the few shelters in this area that has the ability to host families, Renewal House allows adults affected by domestic violence to secure safe housing for themselves and their children.

Recognizing the signs of abuse and deciding to leave an abusive relationship comes with many struggles including loss of financial and emotional support. For those living in the shelter, a supportive community emerges through group therapy and support forums, art therapy, and community outings with former residents, advocates, and volunteers. In addition, advocates at the shelter work with residents to find safe housing, secure necessary services such as healthcare, and assist with job searches. Other resources include English as a Second Language, computer skills and citizenship classes. In the larger community, Renewal House works to end domestic violence by offering conflict resolution classes and general education on the warning signs of abuse.

As a former volunteer at Renewal House, I’ve witnessed first-hand the dedication of advocates and volunteers and the impact they make. To help support their most recent development, a partnership with a transition house for victims of domestic violence, I’ve chosen Renewal House for my holiday donation.

To make a donation to benefit Renewal House, please click here and designate your donation to "Renewal House."